Never thought of that! in Prevent Algae from Growing in Your Birdbath

By flaflwrgrl
December 10, 2011

To keep algae growth from your bird bath drop some pre-1982 copper pennies in. I have what I would call a normal size bird bath & I use 7 pennies. The reason for the pennies being pre-1982 is that before that year, the pennies contained copper, a natural algicide. You could also use a small length of copper pipe or tubing, or any other copper coin. I have found this to work extremely well with the exception of those times when the temperatures stay above 90 for extended periods. Copper is not safe for fish so this would not be a good thing to use in a fish aquarium or a pond that has fish in it.

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Marilyn

Dec 20, 2011 5:59 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

Sheryl,

Your doggie is so cute and adorable! I just want to hold him or her!

How old is your doggie? Love those white paws!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192499 (1)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 20, 2011 6:14 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

Looks like a smooth coated border collie. Purty!

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192508 (2)

Marilyn

Dec 20, 2011 7:11 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

flaflwrgrl said:Looks like a smooth coated border collie. Purty!

versus a rough coated border collie?!

couldn't resist saying that!

I never heard of a smooth coated border collie. sure is purty!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192539 (3)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 20, 2011 7:50 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

Actually Marilyn the long haired ones are called rough coated border collies. The famous Lassie is a rough coated collie & there are smooth coated collies --- they have shorter hair.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192562 (4)

Marilyn

Dec 20, 2011 10:27 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

Didn't know that.

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192612 (5)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 21, 2011 5:00 AM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

I don't understand it. Neither of them have "rough" coats so why are they called rough coated? Lassies have soft flowing beautiful coats & it's not curly so why is it called rough & the shorter haired ones are called smooth? No logic there that I can see.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192646 (6)

Marilyn

Dec 21, 2011 6:10 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192829 (7)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 21, 2011 6:19 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

You know what Marilyn? I was thinking.....again....... You could just do a small coil of copper --- say a very large "bangle" size & just throw that in the center of the birdbath. I think that would be plenty of copper to do the job.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192838 (8)

Marilyn

Dec 21, 2011 6:45 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

That's an idea Ann.

I'll see how it goes for with the 20 pennies spread all around for awhile.

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192848 (9)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 21, 2011 6:49 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192850 (10)

KyWoods

Dec 21, 2011 7:07 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Renée
Northern KY

Makes cents to me!

| @KyWoods | Post #192860 (11)

Marilyn

Dec 21, 2011 7:19 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

KyWoods said:Makes cents to me!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192862 (12)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 21, 2011 7:55 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192868 (13)

sheryl

Dec 21, 2011 9:15 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Oh, Renee - I mean, OW, Renee!

Ann got to hear about Kipper on another thread. He is a 10 month old baby boy - he's all hearts and smiles. No idea whatsoever what his parentage is, but I suspect Border Collie is at least part of it. Anywho, he's one of my foster babies, I thought I'd start putting them up as my avatar. Kipper was adopted last night and will be going to his furever home in Connecticut the Thursday after Christmas.

Then, my avatar will change to Jasmine, the 3mo/old Queensland heeler/ Great Pyranees mix. You'll like her, too - cute, cute, cute. Especially now that she's had a bath - before she was just stinky, stinky, shew!

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #192889 (14)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 21, 2011 9:19 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #192892 (15)

Marilyn

Dec 21, 2011 10:45 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #192906 (16)

billyporter

Jan 2, 2012 5:57 AM CST

Name: Sally
Nichols, iowa (Zone 5a)

Sheryl,
I like the idea of a copper bath!

Ky,
LOL! Yes! That would be so cool and cheap too! Use all old pennies tho. See the shape of the new ones?

Ann,
Perfect!! I have yet to make a concrete bath, but someday... Pennies would be so cool imbedded!

Marilyn,
I am going to cover the bottom of one bath next year to see how the birds and I like it. I wonder how much copper leaches into the water?
I'd spread them out. It will be clean under each penny.

Oh Sheryl,
I'd love to foster. I can't wait to see all the pictures you post and am so glad Kipper got a home!

A small town has no secrets except itself

| @billyporter | Post #196828 (17)

sheryl

Jan 2, 2012 6:42 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Well, Sal - don't say that too loud, unless you're serious, lol. There's a big need. People are taking a lot of dogs out of shelters that euthanize and fostering them until a permanent home can be found. It's best to hook up with a group that is finding homes, first.

BTW, my avatar is now Jasmine (aka Jazz puppy). Next in line is Ellie, a Basset/ Coon mix. Oy!

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #197143 (18)

billyporter

Jan 3, 2012 11:43 AM CST

Name: Sally
Nichols, iowa (Zone 5a)

Sheryl,
Yes, the need is too big. I feel so bad for the dogs and cats at our Humane Society. I look at the ad at the grocery store and can see why most of the dogs are in there. People thought they were cute and didn't take the time to see what they were getting into. Many terriers and hunting type dogs.

Jasmine, is so pretty. I love her color and she has a sweet face.

A small town has no secrets except itself

| @billyporter | Post #197417 (19)

Marilyn

Jan 3, 2012 3:31 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

DH thought 20 pennies might be too much copper in the water, so I took out 10 pennies a week or two ago.

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #197507 (20)

Prevent Algae from Growing in Your Birdbath

Never thought of that!

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Prevent Algae from Growing in Your Birdbath Never thought of that!

Post a reply

Prevent Algae from Growing in Your Birdbath

Never thought of that!